Fence Regulations in Whittier, CA (2026)
7 verified fence regulations for Whittier, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
The City of Whittier's own Zoning Code limits residential fences and walls, not Los Angeles County. Interior side and rear yard fences may reach about six feet, while front-yard fences must be non-view-obscuring and much lower, with permitted height scaling by lot width under the City's pre-approved palette.
Whittier Fence and Wall Height Limits
Some RestrictionsPermit Requirements
The City of Whittier requires a building permit for a fence or block wall 18 inches or more in height, and for retaining walls of any height. This city threshold is far stricter than the California Building Code, which only requires a permit for fences over 7 feet.
Whittier Fence and Wall Permits
Some RestrictionsNeighbor Fence Rules
Whittier's Zoning Code sets fence height and placement, but cost-sharing for a shared boundary fence is governed by California Civil Code Section 841, the statewide Good Neighbor Fence Act. Adjoining owners are presumed equally responsible for a dividing fence, with 30 days' written notice required before incurring costs.
Whittier Shared and Boundary Fence Rules
Some RestrictionsRetaining Walls
The City of Whittier requires a building permit for a retaining wall of any height, the strictest of its fence-related triggers. In the city's hillside areas, the Zoning Code further limits the vertical height of cuts or fills retained by walls to 20 feet from toe to top.
Whittier Retaining Wall Rules
Heavy RestrictionsFence Requirements
Whittier's Zoning Code and Residential Walls & Fences program set design rules in addition to height. Front-yard fences must be non-view-obscuring and consistent with the City's pre-approved palette, corner lots must keep sight-visibility areas clear, and certain multi-family zones require a six-foot wall along interior lot lines.
Whittier Fence Requirements and Design Standards
Some RestrictionsMaterial Restrictions
Whittier's City Zoning Code bans chain-link, corrugated metal, and fiberglass fencing, plus tennis windscreens, in front, street-side, and interior side yards. Barbed wire, razor wire, and concertina wire are separately restricted under Zoning Code Section 18.64.070.
Whittier Fence Material Restrictions
Heavy RestrictionsApproved Materials
Whittier directs front-yard and street-side fences to its City pre-approved design palette administered by Community Development. Palette-compliant fences earn over-the-counter approval, while non-conforming materials and designs are referred to the Planning Commission.
Whittier Approved Fence Materials and Palette
Some RestrictionsLooking for Los Angeles County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Whittier city rules.
Fence Regulations in Los Angeles County →